Minister Kwape commissions Kanye waste water treatment

'The New facility to improve sanitation and farming'

On Thursday morning, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Lemogang Kwape, officially opened the Kanye Waste Water Treatment Plant. The event took place at the plant near Mmakgodumo Dam, with many people attending and touring the new facility.

Bangwaketse Paramount Chief, Kgosi Malope II, announced that the usual P1,500 connection fee for water services has been removed during the testing phase to see how well the plant works.

The plant, run by NTR Holdings, will help clean wastewater and turn it into fertilizer for farmers. This will protect the environment and boost agriculture in the area.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Kwape explained how the project that cost more than 2billion will benefit communities. “This plant project began around 2005 and took a long time to complete. It is now receiving wastewater and, despite the challenges, is finally operational,” he said.

When giving out project overview, Kaboyamodimo Raitoko from Department of technical services, under Ministry of Lands and water affairs explained how it works. “We bring sewage from Kanye and nearby villages, and microorganisms break it down in tanks. The process separates solid waste from floating material,” he said.

The plant also recycles some of the floating material, called Return Activated Sludge (RAS), to make the process more effective. Any extra sludge is dried and turned into fertilizer for farmers.

Dr. Kwape further explained that the treated water from the plant is not yet safe for drinking. “Right now, it can only be used for farming and irrigation. In the future, we plan to improve it so it meets drinking water standards,” he said.